Attachment for boots and shoes



(No Model.)

1 W. W. STEWART.

ATTACHMENT FOR BOOTS AND SHOES. 7 No. 250,108. Patented Nov. 29,1881.

UNETE STATES PATENT Orrrea.

WILLIAM W. STEWART, OF BROOKLYN, NET/V YORK.

ATTACHMENT FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 250,108, dated November29, 1881.

Application filed March 15, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM WASHINGTONSTEWART, of Brooklyn, Kings county, in the of which the following is aspecification.

Persons in health when walking always relieve the shock which wouldotherwise attend the transferring of ones weight from one foot to theother by an elastic or yielding stepthat is, the weight is firstsustained by a part of the foot which is capable of yielding, so thatthe load comes upon the solid bony support of the foot andleg graduallyand without shock. Age and illness usually cause persons to lose themuscular tension which secures the required elasticity, and thereforewalking becomes relatively more laborious and fatiguing than withpersons of sound health or young in years.

The principal object of my invention is to secure to the aged and infirman artificial elasti'city of step which will relieve them from the shockand consequent fatigue incident to walking with an inelastic step. Thespecific result is attained by placing beneath the shoe an elasticcushion of some suitable structure and placed in a position proper toengage with the surface being walked over before any other part of theshoe. The place of attachment which I prefer is immediately in front ofthe heel, as shown. Thus when the foot is placed upon the ground itscontact therewith is yielding, and as the weight is transferred to thatfoot there is no shock. In practice I prefer to make this cushion or padof india-rubber, and, as it is not desirable thatit should be constantlyon the foot, I provide it with straps or other proper fastenings wherebyit may be readilyattached or detached.

Having now set forth the nature of my invention, I will moreparticularly describe it,

having reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is aperspective view of my invention in operative position. Fig. 2 is a viewof the same detached. Fig. 3 represents the clastic bulb attached to acommon gaiter. Fig. 4

represents the same permanently attached to the sole of an overshoe.

A is my pad, shown in the drawings as a hollow bulb or tube ofindia-rubber, with a strap, B, passing through it. The strap B passesover the instep, and may be provided with a back strap, G, to prevent itfrom slipping forward. It is apparent, however, that ways for securingthe pad are various, and that it may be made of other material thanindia-rubber.

I am aware that elastic soles have been placed on shoes, and that theordinary rubber overshoes are elastic; but in both of these cases thethickness of the elastic substance is too little to afford a desirableor useful quantity of elasticity, and a special pad is for that reasonnecessary.

When in position the pad is immediately in front of the heel of theshoe, and projects below it sufficiently far to cause said pad to bearnearly the whole weight of the person, so that the heel will come intouse only when nearly the whole Weight has been thrown upon the foot.

These pads, when made of india-rubber, or when provided withindia-rubber surfaces, will also be of great utility to preventslippingupon ice, because, as is well known, india-rubber clings to the surfaceof ice when the same is dry and afiords a sure footing. For that reasonmany persons wear india-rubber overshoes when the sidewalks are icy; butthe use of such shoes is objectionable, and is only to be tolerated as achoice between evils. Many persons also wear spurs, known asice-creepers, to prevent slipping on ice; but spurs are not onlyunpleasant to the foot and render walking tiresome, but they are notadmissible indoors, on account of the injury they inflict upon carpetsand floors.

My pads may be worn at all times and at all places without cause fordissatisfaction on any account. They do not inflict discomfort upon thewearer nor injury upon floors or carpets.

If desired, this elastic pad may be permanently attached to the shoe orovershoe.

' Having described myinvention, whatI claim as new is 1. A hollowelastic cushion or pad adapted to be attached to the foot below theshank and immediately in front of the heel of the shoe,

to impart to the footstep an artificial elasticity, of the shoeimmediately in front of the heel,

as and. for the purpose set forth. and secured there by suitable means,for the 10 2. A hollow elastic cushion or pad provided purpose setforth.

with straps or other proper means for ready 5 and convenient attachmentto the shoe, as set WILLIAM STEWART forth. p Witnesses: 3. An elasticbulb or tube, A, ofrubber, adapt- JOSEPH M. LAYAT, ed to be fitted andplaced beneath the shank HAROLD D. WATSON.

